A college told Flock to remove its cameras. The company refused

Elgin Community College installed six Flock Safety license-plate-reading cameras in April 2025 to deter theft and locate missing people, but officials reversed course after learning federal agencies had accessed Flock data elsewhere in Illinois and after an ICE arrest in a campus parking lot. College leaders say enrollment dipped and students - many of them Latino - were afraid to attend, so administrators asked Flock to remove the cameras in October 2025 and again in December, even offering to pay out remaining contract months. Flock, which retains ownership of its equipment, rejected the request and ignored subsequent communications; staff began covering cameras, only to have workers in an unmarked vehicle remove the coverings. The college’s contract finally expired and the company uninstalled the devices in April 2026.

Public records obtained by researchers and local reporters show Flock data from multiple Illinois campuses, including Joliet Junior College, UIC and UIUC, was searched dozens of times last year by immigration authorities, and the Illinois Secretary of State found CBP searches that violated state law. Surveillance experts warn Flock is incentivized to keep as many cameras active as possible to expand its network, while students and campus advocates argue the technology undermines efforts to create welcoming, safe learning environments for immigrant students and activists. Several colleges still host Flock cameras - Joliet has seven at its main entrance and its contract is up for renewal in July 2027 - and administrators say they routinely review who has access to the data.